New York, NY – The Business-to-Retail (B2R) division of dmg world media was reorganized into three teams and two trade shows were folded in a move to streamline operations. In addition, 31 jobs were eliminated at dmg’s office in White Plains, NY.
The company said June 19 that it had cancelled the co-located Global Home Textiles and Global Home Décor shows held in Las Vegas, and had also terminated its management contract for the Affordable Meetings shows with Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International.
“The plan we announced today will streamline the business, enabling us to be more nimble and responsive to the markets we serve,” said Alan Steel, executive vice president of the B2R division.
Steel, who joined dmg in May when the B2R unit was formed, added, “We are confident that our new organizational structure and the related streamlining of our show portfolio are the right moves for the long-term health of the business.”
Steel said the moves were a tough decision but were made necessary by current market conditions. He said there would be a direct impact on the management of some of the company’s largest shows, including Surf Expo, New York International Gift Fair and the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show.
The B2R division was divided into three teams, each run by a senior vice president. Phil Robinson and Dorothy Belshaw will remain based in White Plains while Lori Kisner will round out the leadership from the Atlanta office. Details of their duties were not immediately released. Robinson and Belshaw were most recently senior vice presidents for dmg’s GLM division while Kisner was most recently vice president of dmg and show director of Surf Expo.
GLM, formerly George Little Management, LLC, was acquired by dmg in October 2007. dmg world media is a subsidiary of the Daily Mail and General Trust plc (DMGT), one of the largest media companies in the U.K. Each year, dmg produces 300 exhibitions and publishes 45 related magazines, newspapers, directories and market reports. The company employs 700 people in more than 30 offices worldwide.
Reach Alan Steel at (914) 421-3200 or alansteel@dmgworld media.com; Dorothy Belshaw at (914) 421-3200 or dorothy_belshaw@glmshows.com; Phil Robinson at (914) 421-3200 or phil_robinson@glmshows.com; Lori Kisner at (678) 781-7970 or lkisner@surfexpo.com; Penny Sikalis, show manager for Global Home Décor and Global Home Textiles, at (914) 421-3297 or penny_sikalis@glmshows.com
